qPCR NEWS - September 2009 - key topic - circulating nucleic acids - CNA ---------------------------------------------------------------------------= ------------------- Dear researcher, dear Gene Quantification page reader, Our newsletter informs about the latest news in quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR and qRT-PCR), which are compiled and summarised on the Gene Quantification homepage. The focus of this newsletter issue is: - NEW PAGE - circulating nucleic acids =3D> http://CNA.gene-quantification.= info - a lot of updates in MIQE - media & press review =3D> http://miqe.gene-quantification.info/ - New molecular diagnostics qPCR/real-time PCR discussion forum: LinkedIN & XING - qPCR / real-time PCR BLOG =3D> http://real-time-pcr.blogspot.com/ - For better navigation we developed a TAG CLOUD =3D> http://directory.gene-quantification.info/ - New qPCR events in autumn 2009: symposia & workshops =3D> http://events.gene-quantification.info/ European wide qPCR application workshops - register now ! Course program autumn 2009 & winter 2010 =3D> http://www.gene-quantification.de/bioeps-courses-autumn-2009.pdf ---------------------------------------------------------------------------= ----- CNA =3D Circulating Nucleic Acids Most of the DNA and RNA in the body is located within cells, but a small amount of nucleic acids can also be found circulating freely in the blood. These DNA, RNA and small RNA molecules are thought to come from dying cells that release their contents into the blood as they break down. The term "Circulating Nucleic Acids =3D CNA" refers to segments of DNA or RNA found in the bloodstream. CNAs offers a non-invasive approach to a wide range in diagnostics of clinical disorders that will allow the basic information necessary not only for use in predictive medicine but also for direct use in acute medicine. Further free CNAs offer unique opportunities for early diagnosis of clinical conditions, e.g. in early cancer detection. Although DNA was first demonstrated in human blood from healthy donors, pregnant women and clinical patients in 1948, the structure of DNA was still to be determined as was the elucidation of its role as the basis of the gene. Consequently, no interest was shown in the presence of DNA in the circulatory system until high DNA levels were demonstrated in the blood of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. Similar observations were also made in acute medicine, diabetes, oncology and fetal medicine. The presence of DNA and RNA in plasma of patients has been recognised since the 1970s. A range of markers have been proposed for the identification of a particular cancer, though there is frequent conflict in the literature as to the effectiveness of particular probes. However, recently, hypermethylated CpG in the promotor region of tumour suppressor genes has been suggested to trigger local gene silencing. Aberrant methylation of the p26 tumour suppressor gene was the first to be detected in liver, breast and lung cancer. Nucleic acids can be found in small amounts in healthy and diseased human plasma/serum. Higher concentrations of DNA are present in the plasma of cancer patients sharing some characteristics with DNA of tumor cells. Together with decreased strand stability, the presence of specific oncogene or tumor-suppressor gene mutations, microsatellite alterations, Ig rearrangements and hypermethylation of several genes may be detected. Moreover, tumor-related mRNA has been found circulating in the plasma/serum. The results obtained in many different cancers have opened a new research area indicating that circulating nucleic acids might eventually be used for the development of noninvasive diagnostic, prognostic and follow-up tests for cancer. For more info and for some key papers about circulating nucleic acids =3D> http://CNA.gene-quantification.info ---------------------------------------------------------------------------= ----- Upcoming Events World-wide academic and commercial qPCR Events http://events.gene-quantification.info/ Symposia, Meetings, Conferences, Workshops, Seminars, Online-Seminars, qPCR Education Program, etc. Please submit your qPCR event here =3D> events@gene- quantification.info ---------------------------------------------------------------------------= ----- qPCR 2010 in Vienna international qPCR Symposium 7-9th April 2010 Main Topic =93The ongoing evolution of qPCR=94 download updated 2nd announcement as PDF =3D> http://www.bioeps.com/qpcr2010/Vienna-qPCR-2010-2nd-announcement.pdf Symposium sessions & preliminary title MIQE and QM strategies in qPCR The MIQE guidelines: minimum information for publication of quantitative real-time PCR experiments. Following these guidelines will encourage better experimental practice, allowing more reliable and unequivocal interpretation of qPCR results. QM strategies in real- time PCR to guarantee better and more valid results. Prof. Stephen Bustin, =93The MIQE Guidelines: Minimum Information for Publication of Quantitative Real-Time PCR Experiments=94 High throughput quantitative PCR =96 digital PCR 384 well applications, new high throughput platforms, droplet PCR, qPCR robotics, digital PCR, gene expression real-time RT-PCR arrays (mRNA and microRNA), quantitative multiplexing, =85 Prof. Mikael Kubista, =93Digital PCR and intracellular expression profiling=94 Dr. Philip Day, =93High throughput droplet PCR=94 Dr. Ken Livak, "title to be announced" HRM =96 High Resolution Melting SNP analysis, HRM =3D high resolution melt applications, Epigenetics, methylation markers, HRM platform comparison, etc =85 Prof. Carl Wittwer, "High Resolution Melting Analysis" Prof. Claudio Orlando, =93High Resolution Melting Analysis in Cancer Diagnosis=94 Circulating nucleic acids Analysis of circulating RNAs and DNA and microRNAs as diagnostic and prognostic marker, =85 Dr. Pamela Pinzani, =93Cell free circulating DNA=94 Dr. Alfred Sch=F6ller, "Targeting the human urine RNAome for tumor diagnostics by qPCR=94 Single-cell qPCR Single-cell sampling, pre-amplification techniques, laser microdissection, sub-cellular PCR, micro-manipulation of cell clusters, cellular micro injection, FACS spotting, single cell handling, pre-amplification=85 Dr. Michael W. Pfaffl, =93Quantitative expression analysis after pre- amp in single WBCs=94 Dr. Anders Stahlberg, =93Single-cell gene expression profiling=94 RNAi - microRNA - siRNA Applications =96 miRNA normalisation RNAi mechanism, microRNA extraction, qRT-PCR technologies to detect microRNA, microRNA normalisation strategies, siRNA applications in combination with qRT-PCR, microRNA targets and microRNA precursors, new siRNA manipulation and microRNA technologies, ... Prof. Jo Vandesompele, =93MicroRNA and mRNA gene expression normalization=94 Dr. Mirco Castoldi, "Expression profiling of microRNA by quantitative real time PCR, what is available and where to go from there" qPCR BioStatistics & BioInformatics software applications, data mining, calculation of relative expression, primer and probe design on mRNA and microRNA level, real- time PCR efficiency determination, mathematical modelling, multivariate expression profiling, statistics in real-time PCR, data management, multiway expression profiling, multiple regression analysis, 3D data visualization, ... Dr. Ales Tichopad, =93Statistical aspects of quantitative PCR experiment design and qPCR data analysis=94 Dr. Jan Hellemans, =93Accurate and objective copy number profiling using real-time quantitative PCR=94 Dr. Anders Bergkvist, =93Expression profiling - clusters of possibilities=94 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------= ----- qPCR WORKSHOP BioEPS GmbH / TATAA Biocenter Germany - qPCR Application workshops At the TATAA Biocenter Germany we offer qPCR application workshops, a 3-day qPCR Core Module and a 2-day qPCR Biostatistics Module. All courses are held regularly in G=F6teborg, Sweden, in English and in Freising-Weihenstephan, Germany, in German and English, and in Prague, Czech Republic in English and Czech. Depending on the occasion the workshop language and the different prices may apply. Further customized workshops and specialized trainings will be held as well across Europe and world-wide. TATAA Biocenter Germany workshops are held in cooperation with BioEPS GmbH, located at the campus of the Technical University of Munich, in Freising-Weihenstephan, very close to the Munich Airport (MUC). For more information and registration, please see our web page: =3D> http://TATAA.gene-quantification.info/ Course Occasions 2009: - 3-day qPCR Core Module (Mon. - Wed.) - 2-day BioStatistics Module (Thu. - Fri.) - 3-day single-cell qPCR Module (Mon. - Wed.) - 3-day microRNA Module (Mon. - Wed.) 19 - 23 October 2009 (E) 3-day microRNA Module (Mon. - Wed.) & 2- day BioStatistics (Thu. - Fri.) 26 - 28 October 2009 (E) 3-day qPCR Core Module (Mon. - Wed.) 16 - 20 November 2009 (E) 3-day microRNA Module (Mon. - Wed.) & 2- day BioStatistics (Thu. - Fri.) 7 - 11 December 2009 (E) 3-day qPCR Core Module (Mon. - Wed.) & 2- day BioStatistics (Thu. - Fri.) =3D> http://www.gene-quantification.de/bioeps-courses-autumn-2009.pdf ---------------------------------------------------------------------------= ----- Forward Please send the qPCR NEWS to further scientists and friends who are interested in qPCR ! Best regards, Michael W. Pfaffl responsible Editor of the Gene Quantification Pages http://www.gene-quantification.info ---------------------------------------------------------------------------= ----- If this newsletter is not displayed correctly by your email client, please use following link: http://qpcrnews.gene-quantification.info/ The qPCR NEWS and the Gene Quantification Pages are educational sites with the only purpose of facilitating access to qPCR related information on the internet. The qPCR NEWS and the Gene Quantification Pages are edited by Michael W. Pfaffl. Copyright =A9 2005 - 2009 All rights reserved. Any unauthorized use, reproduction, or transfer of this message or its contents, in any medium, is strictly prohibited. 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